JOB SUMMARY
The Senior Director - Payroll and HR Services is a strategic enterprise leader responsible for shaping, optimizing, and governing the full employee lifecycle across payroll administration, payroll tax operations, recruiting, training and human resources services. This role leads multiple functional Directors, oversees large-scale financial and compliance-sensitive operations, and ensures integrated service delivery across the organization.
Reporting to the CFO and as a key member of senior leadership, the Senior Director establishes strategy, drives cross-functional alignment, and ensures operational excellence to support a large, distributed workforce. The role applies deep expertise in Payroll, HR, Payroll Tax, and workforce systems to build scalable processes, ensure regulatory compliance, and create an exceptional employee experience from recruitment to the entire employment life cycle. This leader serves as the primary executive liaison for all payroll, training & talent and HR operations with internal business partners, state and federal agencies, and external auditors.
JOB DUTIES
- Provide senior leadership over Payroll, Payroll Tax, Training & Talent and Human Resources functions, ensuring alignment with corporate strategy and financial goals.
- Develop and execute long-term operational strategies, including automation, process optimization, risk mitigation, and scalable staffing models.
- Lead and support Directors and senior managers through coaching, mentorship, and accountability to promote high performance and organizational readiness.
- Oversee enterprise compliance across payroll taxation, employment laws, wage/hour regulations, benefits administration, and workforce policies.
- Establish governance structures for cross-functional integration between Payroll, Finance, HR, IT, Compliance, and Operations.
- Develop and manage large operational budgets, ensuring cost efficiency and investment prioritization.
- Represent the organization in interactions with external agencies, auditors, and key vendor partnerships.
- Champion data-driven decision-making through analytics, KPI development, forecasting, and predictive reporting.
- Drive organizational culture and learning initiatives that enhance employee engagement, leadership development, and operational capability.
- Present strategic updates, risk assessments, and operational recommendations to executive leadership and the Board.
QUALIFICATIONS
- 12+ years of progressive leadership experience in payroll and HR, payroll taxation, or large-scale administrative operations.
- Demonstrated success leading Directors and/or multi-functional senior managers.
- Master's degree in business, Accounting, HR Management, Finance, or related field preferred.
- Expert knowledge of Payroll as a service, payroll operations, payroll taxation, HR compliance, and systems integration.
- Experience with Workday preferred
- Proven success leading large, distributed teams.
- Strong executive communication, change management, and strategic planning skills.
- Must be able to successfully pass a background screening
- Ability to work flexible and/or extended hours, if needed, to meet the job requirements
- Ability to travel up to 15% of the time
- If remote or hybrid, must have own reliable internet service
The incumbent typically works in an office environment and uses a computer, telephone and other office equipment as needed to perform duties. The noise level in the work environment is typical of that of an office. Incumbent may encounter frequent interruptions throughout the workday. The employee is regularly required to sit, talk, or hear; frequently required to use repetitive hand motion, handle or feel, and to stand, walk, reach, bend or lift up to 20 pounds. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.